100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC
By Dr Harish Chandra Shah
Nepal and China are close neighbours linked by mountains and rivers and have a long history of friendly and profound feelings for each other. We have a long history of friendly exchanges and cooperation. The relations between Nepal and China have always remained cordial, friendly, and reliable. These relations have been further strengthened by the exchange of visits at various levels between the two countries. The relations between Nepal and China are as old as history itself.
First of all, on behalf of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council, I warmly congratulate the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding. Nepal and China are good neighbours and friendly countries and have made great progress in people-to-people exchanges. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China on August 1, 1955, our relations are growing and getting closer day by day in all areas. Since, the establishment of diplomatic ties 66 years ago, political relations and people to people relations between the two countries has been increasingly promoted. In 2019, President of China Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Nepal at the friendly invitation of President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari. High-level visits were started along with the visit of Nepali Prime Minister Tank Prasad Acharya to China in 1956. In 1957, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai visited Nepal. Again, in 1960, Premier Zhou Enlai visited Nepal at the friendly invitation of Prime Minister Bisweswor Prasad Koirala.
Nepali kings Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev; president Ram Baran Yadav and prime ministers Biswesor Prasad Koirala, Kirti Nidhi Bista, Girija Prasad Koirala, Man Mohan Adhikari, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal had visited China at different occasions. Likewise, Chinese presidents Li Xiannian and Jiang Zemin, premiers Li Peng, Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao have visited Nepal.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli have also paid visit to China at different occasions. After the visit from both the countries’ ‘heads of state and prime ministers, our traditional relation became more profound and closer. During the visit to China in 1961, late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev signed the border treaty. In 1960, the Embassy of China was established in Kathmandu and in 1961, the Embassy of Nepal was established in Beijing. Nepal has the honour of having the Consulate General’s office in Lhasa, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and now in Chengdu and the Honorary Consul in Shanghai.
Nepal and China are heading firmly to further consolidate their traditionally friendly ties and mutual cooperation in various sectors. China has been assisting Nepal in its efforts for socio-economic development since the mid-50s, especially in the field of infrastructure building, the establishment of industries, human resource development, culture, education, health, sports and beyond. Some of the important Chinese Government’s grant aid projects are Bharatpur Cancer Hospital in Chitwan, Civil Service Hospital in Kathmandu, Ayurvedic Research and Training Center in Kirtipur, Polytechnic Institute in Banepa, Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Road, Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Arniko Highway, Banglung-Beni-Jomsom Road, Dry port in Tatopani, etc.
Since then, Nepal and China relations become more close and profound. China has been assisting and helping Nepal in the area of infrastructure, health, education, culture, religion and economic etc. In 2000, China established the Chinese Temple in Lumbini. In 2007, the Confucius Institute settled in Kathmandu University. In 2009, the two countries established a youth exchange mechanism. In 2018, China has held eight “China Festival” and “China Education Exhibition” activities in Nepal.
In 2015, Nepal faced a devastating earthquake. During this difficult time, China had assisted, helped, rescued and gave big help and support for the reconstruction of the demolished heritage sites, schools and other structures. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was spread in Nepal. China has been contributing meaningful support by providing grant help in the field of all the necessary health supplies to fight against the pandemic. Recently China has provided 1.8 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine on the grant. The Nepal government and Nepali people will always remember this significant help and support.
The CPC takes the rejuvenation of China as its original aspiration and mission. After an arduous struggle and hard work, it has led the Chinese people from standing up, getting rich to becoming strong, and making China the second-largest economy in the world. The CPC has led the Chinese people to achieve in the face of the new Coronavirus epidemic, which has demonstrated the responsibility of the CPC and its successful response to major disasters. It has won the broadest support and support of 1.4 billion Chinese people.
Nepal and China are traditionally friendly neighbours and have always maintained mutual trust, respect and support. Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council sincerely wishes and believes that under the leadership of the great CPC, the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics will continue to flourish, and China will surely achieve the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of China.
As a non-governmental organization aiming to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries, Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council appreciates China’s long-term assistance and is willing to draw strength from the centuries-old history of the CPC and make greater contributions to the development of friendly relations between the two countries.
During the past 100 years, every step the party took in various historical periods shone with dazzling brilliance. In these hundred years of vicissitudes and a hundred years of trials and hardships, the CPC has always maintained a great spirit of struggle and a heart to the people, leading the Chinese people to take the steps to realize the great rejuvenation of China.
The story between me and China is very long. From the first time I set foot on Chinese soil in 1979 till today, I have witnessed the fruitful achievements of the new China under the leadership of the Communist Party. To save the country, rejuvenate the country, enrich the country, and strengthen the country, every step the CPC takes is based on reality, down-to-earth, and has embarked on a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has made great contributions to the country, the people, and the world. It uses practical actions and results to prove China’s strength to the world.
Under the leadership of the CPC, China has gained world-renowned achievements in many aspects and many fields. On February 25 this year, China solemnly announced to the world that China has achieved a complete victory in the fight against poverty. Since the reform and opening up, 770 million rural poor people in China have been lifted out of poverty according to the current poverty standards.
According to the World Bank’s international poverty standards, China has reduced poverty. The poor accounted for more than 70% of the global poverty reduction population during the same period. In the process of poverty reduction, the world’s largest education, social security, and medical system were established and perfected. This feat demonstrated to the world the strength of China under the leadership of the CPC. The Chinese people believe in the leadership of the party and actively cooperate with the country’s policies to overcome the epidemic with one mind. Since the end of April, China’s new Corona vaccination situation has exceeded 1 billion, and more than 350 million doses of vaccines have been provided to the international community, including vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries, and vaccine exports to more than 40 countries, showing the Chinese Communist Party to the world China’s speed under the leadership. If everyone sitting here also expresses their admiration for China’s strength and speed, then look up and you will see three astronauts on the Chinese space station in the vast universe beckoning to us, celebrating this great centenary of the founding of the party with us.
Facts have proved that history and the people are correct in choosing the CPC to lead the great rejuvenation of China. Under the leadership of the CPC, China has radiated great vigour and vitality, providing new choices for countries and peoples in the world who both want to accelerate development and maintain their independence, and contribute Chinese solutions and Chinese wisdom to solving human problems.
Facing the future and facing challenges, I believe that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation will inevitably be realized, and the new era from big to strong will also get better and better, and China will also bring more surprises to the world.
There is a saying in China that there would be no New China without the Communist Party. Anyone familiar with Chinese history knows that since the founding of the CPC, the Chinese people have worked hard under the leadership of the CPC to make China go from a bloody storm. Step by step from the devastating era to today’s prosperity, China’s achievements today cannot be separated from the original intention and mission of the CPC to serve the people wholeheartedly, and the ideals and wisdom of countless Chinese Communists have been condensed.
In the 100 years since the founding of the party, under the leadership of the CPC, China’s development has attracted the attention of the world, with political progress and social harmony. Especially since the reform and opening-up, China’s economic development has embarked on a fast track, scientific and technological progress, and cultural and educational undertakings have flourished.
At present, the new coronavirus related epidemic, under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have made great achievements in controlling the epidemic. They have not only controlled the development of the domestic epidemic in China in a short period but also carried out cooperation with other countries.
On the centenary of the founding of the CPC, as the chairman of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council, I wish the CPC a happy birthday and wish China a prosperous future under the leadership of the CPC, and wish Nepal-China even greater people-to-people exchanges in the days to come.
Long Live Nepal China Friendship!
The writer is the chairman of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council
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